Peooess of peepaeing hydeocaebon and othee oils foe buening



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. H. MAGY. PROCESS OF PREPARING HYDROGARBON AND OTHER OILS FOR BURNING.

, Patented Dec. 23, 1890.

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(No Model.) 2Sheefis-Sht 2. J. H. MACY. PROGESS 0P PREPARING HYDROGARBON AND OTHER OILS FOR BURNING.

No. 443,225. Patented Dec. 23, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOSIAH ll. MACY, OF HARRISON, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, AND ED\VARD N. DICKERSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PROCESS OF PREPARING HYDROCARBON AND OTHER OILS FOR BURNING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,225, dated December 23, 1890.

Application filed August 2'7, 1888. Serial No. 283,905- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSIAH H. MACY, of Harrison, county of \Vestehester, and State. of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Process of Preparing Hydrocarbon and other Oils for Burning, of which the following is a full, true, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention is especially adapted for the generation of steam in boilers for heating purposes for use in glass cupolas, iron and steel furnaces for the melting of metals, and can be utilized in other instances where coal or other fuel is now used.

Figure l is one illustration of the apparatus, in elevation and partly in section, by which the process is carried out. Fig. 2 is a plan view through lineA B of the inner part of the furnace, showing the air-tubes more clearly by which induced current-s of heated air are admitted to the combustion-chamber. Fig.3 is a view in section of the front U- shaped air-tubes, showing the perforations'of the tube on the side nearest the flame, and the metal plates extending into the tubes to subdivide the air-currents and present a large surface for heating air during its passage to the combustion-chamber. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the inner leg of the U-shaped airtubes, showing the subdivisions by metal plates.

Like numbers represent like parts.

1 is a plain tubular boiler as frequently set, with the exception of that part of the furnace usually containing the grate-bars, with an ash-pit beneath them. With my system neither bars or ash-pit are of use, and are therefore removed. This part of the furnace is made with ashes and tire-brick and is varied in form. In this case it is made similar to the inside of a large kettle resting upon its side, with its aperture facing to the front of the furnace, as at 2. The sides are closed in by fire-brick, leaving an opening for the escape of the heat and flame in the central and upper part. From this point the flame or heat passes beneath the boiler, through the tubes, and over the boiler to the uptake, as with other similar forms of setting.

3 represents one or more metal tubes,usually of cast-iron, for admitting a supply of heat-ed air to the combustion-chamber. The outside leg is provided with a fan-shaped regulator at 4, which may be opened or closed to regulate the quantity of air admitted. The inner and longer leg extends upward in the furnace, so

that a portion of it is exposed and becomes heated by the furnace heat. Its outlet at 5 is subdivided in four or more parts by metal plates, which form a cross, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. They are notched into each other and extend lengthwise intothe tubes, as shown in the inner leg, Fig. 3, presenting largeheat ing-surfaces for heating the incoming air, and

they also serve to subdivide the air-current and heat it more uniformly. By this means the temperature of the incoming air is increased. These tubes are usually placed near the front and sides of the furnace, as shown are exposed at the top and sides to the heat of the furnace. They may also be exposed at most of the under side by supporting them upon piers instead of solid masonry. Vhere the heat is intense they require to be placed lower in the chamber and less exposed to the heat. In blast-furnaces and cupolas they are incased and shielded by masonry. They are supplied with subdividing-plates, such as are used in tubes 3, (shown in Figs. 3 and 4,) for subdividing the air-current. They are also supplied at their outer ends with fan-tailed regulators for controlling the admission of air, and have holes drilled through the upper or most exposed part to distribute air and effect more perfect combustion. The inner end of the tubes 6 terminate at 7behind masonry, Fig. l, which serves as a shield to prevent; the passage of flame into the tubes, ample space being left to permit the escape of the heated air into the combustion-elmmbcr.

S, Fig. l, is the uptake or stack and is provided with a damper .l, which is kept; open until the furnace iswell heated.

is a large duct connecting with the uptake at one end and with a water-heater it at the other.

12 is a damper in the duct 10 and is closed until the furnace is heated when it is opened and 9 is closed. The heater 11 is made with movable cast outer heads secured by bolts. It has two inner heads '13 riveted to the shell. They are perforated and have metal tubes 1t (iron or brass) expanded there- 1n, forming a passage for the heat admitted through duct- 10 from end to end. Between the inner and outerhcads a chamber is formed, which is divided by partitions 15, placed to form a sinuous or S-shapcd current of the heat or waste products of combustion admitted through the duct 10. The pipes 1% are divided in three parts to effect this, and the heat admitted through 10 is forced downward. After heating the water in contact with the pipes 1t it escapes through the outlet or duct 10, which is also provided with a damper 17, and is conveyed to the stack 9. Cold water is admitted to the heater through pipe 18 at its point of lowest heat. As it becomes heated, it rises and comes in contact with pipes that are hotter and hotter and is finally discharged through pipe 19 at the point of greatest heat. It is then discharged into the boiler near its bottom by the pipe 20 (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1) at a temperature ranging between 200 and 212 Fahrenheit. In practice the heaterll. rests in brackets immediately upon the cover of the boiler and is placed close to the uptake 8. It was moved away from the boiler in the drawings to show it more clearly. I

21 is a metal oil-supply tank made to withstand an air-pressure of at least one hundred pounds to the square inch. It is provided with a dome 22, which maybe of cast-iron. The cover of the dome is made in two parts 23 and it, which are firmly secured by bolts, and are made tight by corrugating the parts lying adjacent thereto and interposing softmetal packing. 23 is formed as a right angle, and to that part projecting downward is socured one or more metal sieves or strainers 25-usually one of coarse grade and one of tine-to strain all of the oil that may be introduced through pipe 26 and stop-cock 27.

At the bottom of tank 21 is an outlet-pipe 28, having stopcock 29 to convey the oil from the oil-tank 21 to the oil-heater 230. The pipe 28 discharges the oil into the open chamber of the oil-heater 30, and therein is a steam-coil 31 for heating the oil so introduced. 31 may receive steam directly from the boiler through the live-steam pipes 32 and on, in which case the supcrheater Ill may be disctmnected atilanges and .36, the ends being capped. The steam may then pass through coil 31, pipe 37, to pipe 38, (this connection having been made, the cock 3!) being closed,) and thence to the steam parts of the air-pump I0 through pipe It, or the stop-cock on pipe 33 maybe closed and the super-heater be attached. Then with the cock 39 open and pipe detached from 37 and capped, the live steam goes directly to the air pump 1-0, through pipe -11, which is an extension of steam-pipe 32 in which case the exhauststeam would escape through the exhaust-pipe 2, and passing through the superheater 3&- return through pipe 43 to the coil 31. Itcould then escape to the atmosphere or be returned to a heater similar to 11, supported by brackets on the opposite side of the boiler for utilizing the exhaust-steam. (Not shown in these drawings.) For burning petroleum or hydrocarbon oils I prefer the former plan of heating with live steam directly from the boiler.

The oil-heater 330 is provided with covers made identical with those described for the dome 22 of the oil-supply tank 21. It is also provided with a strainer it of the same character as the one used in the oil-supply tank 21 to again strain the oil before permitting it to pass through the oil-feed pipe to and to the burner 46. This is a precaution to prevent the sediment accumulating in tank 21 from choking these pipes and the burner, the oil being forced inwardly from the chamber, where it is heated by the coil 31, to the pipe if). The supply of oil fed to the combustionchamber may be controlled by stop-cocks 4-7 and 48.

4:9 is apressure-gage to indicate the pressure in the oil-heater 31.

is a pipe connecting with the main. discharge of the regulating air-pump -10 to introduce compressed air into the tank 21. Its lower end extends into and to the bottom of the oil-supply tank 21, whe e it is provided with perforations to permit the escape of air under pressure into the body of oil and to more thoroughly mix and incorporate it therewith. By this means the oil becomes thoroughly charged with compressed air to any degree required, the air permeating every part of it tending to separate its molecules and effect complete atomization when permitted to escape free from pressure into the combustion-chamber.

The air-compressor 40 is an ordinary automatic air-pump, which may be set by means of the weights 51 to correspond with any given steam-pressure. Any of the pumps of this character that will, give high pressure and now on the market will answer for this purpose.

Pipe 52 is an extension of the air-pressure pipe, and is used to form connection with an oil-tank of a railroad-car or other replenish- Its iug-reservoir to force its contents into the oilsupply tank 21. At such times the stop-cock 56 on pipe 50 may be closed and be opened.

is a pipe connecting with a cylinder 5%, which has a piston and piston-rod connecting with an arm or lever on the steam-valve. lVhen the air-pressure is less than the steampressure, the weight 51 drops and opens the steam-valve, and the pump operates and increases the pressure. When the air-pressure equals or slightly exceeds the steam-pressure, the weight is raised and the pump stopped by closing off the steam.

57 is a petcock in pipe 37 to draw away any condensation that may accumulate in coil 31.

58 is a vent-cock to release the pressure in tank 21.

Having described the various parts of the apparatus, the operation is as follows: The tank 21 is filled with oil through pipe 26, it having been thoroughly strained by passing through the strainer 25. Steam is then admitted to the air-pump 40 by adding the weights 51, if necessary, to open the steamvalve. The cook 55 being closed, the automatic regulating air-pump forces the air admitted therein through pipe 50 into the oil in the oil-supply tank 21, and as the air-pressure increases inthe tank and the oil becomes thoroughly permeated or charged with air to the degree of pressure approximating to that required the weights 51 are added or re moved to control the action of the pump. The oil thus charged with air under pressure is then forced through pipe 28 into the oil heater 30, Where the oil and air intermingled and under pressure are heated by contact with the steam-coil 31. If petroleum or hydrocarbon oil is used, it is preferably heated, as described, by live steam admitted directly from the boiler to the coil 31 through pipes 32 and 33, the superheater being removed and the flanges 35 and 36 capped. The special object of this is to enable me to better control and regulate the heating of the oil. Too much heat applied to the oil and air when combined in this manner would ignite the oil and vapor formed within the heater and be likely to explode it. The application of a reasonable amount of heat to the mixture of oil and air incorporated and thoroughly mixed in this way operates to form more or less of a gaseous mixture,which will ignite instantly upon exposure to flame or a high degree of heat. After heating in the manner specified the mixture is permitted to escape through pipes 45 and 46 into the combustion-chamber of the furnace,'where it is directed against a body of pumice-stone to break its force, experience having shown that if the flame is directed immediately against iron plates or the mason-work it will soon burn a hole through them. The supply of oil fed to the furnace is controlled by cocks 47 and 4:8. Vhen the oil has ignited in the combustion-chamber, heated currents of atn'iospheric-air are admitted through the tubes and (l. The air is distributed in dilferent parts of the furnace, furnishing the necessary 7 supply of oxygen to effect perfect combustion by its escape from the numerous perforations in the air-tubes 3 and 6. (Shown in Figs. 2 and 3.) The pressure of air required to do good work is about fifty pounds per square inch, although seventy or more may be employed to good advantage. By this system all unnecessary blanketing of the fire by the use of steam for atomizing the oil is avoided, and the quantity of oxide of iron which collects in the tubes of the boilers so rapidly where steam is used in quantity for atomizing is reduced to a minimum. By this process the oil is thoroughly atomized the instant it is exposed to a reduced pressure and 8 5 combustion is obtained and greaterintensity 0 is produced with smaller consumption of oil. The flame is not likely to be extinguished, as it sometimes is where steam is used, and chances for accident are removed.

lVith the automatic air compressing and 5 regulating device it is applicable for heating buildings where heat is required at night and the fires are left during the absence of an engineer to the care of Watchmen or unskilled labor. I an air-pressure, a means of starting up is always at hand, and steam from another boiler or a hand-p ump are not prerequisites, as with other systems where but one boiler or furnace is in use. 47 and exposing the gas or atomized oil to a piece of lighted cotton waste the apparatus is put in motion and may be stopped and started at will.

Having described my invention, what I no in intermingling or mixing under pressure 11';

atmospheric air with the oil to be burned, then subjecting the mixed air and oil to heat while under pressure, and then atomizing the oil by exposing it to a reduction of pressure in the presence of heat of a tempera- 1 2o t-ure sufficiently high to effect its ignition, substantially as described.

2. The process of preparing hydrocarbon or other oil forburning, which consists in intermingling or mixing under pressure atmos r25 pheric air with the oil to be burned, then atomizing the oil so mixed by exposing it to a reduction of pressure in the presence of heat of a temperature sufficiently high to effect its ignition, and then promoting combus- 130 tion by supplying the ignited matter with currents of heated air, substantially as described.

3. The process of preparing hydrocarbon or The oil-tank being maintained under Upon turning the stop-cock other oiliorbnrning, which process consists In testimony whereof I have signed my 111 lutermingling or mixing under pressure name to this specification in the presence of atmospheric ail-with the oil to be burned, and two subscribing witnesses.

then atomizing the oil 50 mixed by exposing JOSIAH II. MAUY. 5 it to areduction of pressure in the presence \Yitnesses:

of heat of a temperature sufliciently high to ANTHONY GREF,

effect its ignition, substantially as described. WM. A. POLLOCK. 

